Malaysian Water Village Engulfed in Flames at Night, Destroying About 200 Homes

(CNA, Kuala Lumpur, 19th, Combined Foreign Dispatches) Malaysia's official news agency, Bernama, reported that a massive fire broke out today in a coastal village in Sabah state, destroying about 200 homes and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.

According to Bernama, the head of the fire department in the Sandakan district stated that authorities received a report of a fire in the area at 1:32 AM (17:32 GMT on the 18th).

He said, "Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly. Furthermore, it was low tide at the time, making it difficult to obtain an open water source."

According to Reuters, the location of the fire was a water village, mostly consisting of wooden stilt houses. The area is also one of the poorest communities in Malaysia, with residents including many stateless individuals and indigenous groups.

According to unofficial statistics, about 445 residents have been evacuated so far and have registered at the temporary evacuation center in Sandakan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the federal government is coordinating with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary shelter to the affected population.

He wrote in a Facebook post: "The most important thing right now is the safety of the affected people and providing immediate on-site assistance." (Translated/Edited by Yang Chao-yen) 1150419

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